Who made a move this year?

Many people watching the market this year asked the same question. Who would actually make a move in all this uncertainty? Some assumed the answer was not many. Why would anybody sell? They’re losing money. It’s a terrible market. Some buyers stayed on the sidelines, convinced prices still had room to fall. Others wanted to move but froze at the thought of misreading things.

What follows isn’t a market report. It’s the people we worked with this year, the decisions they made, and what pushed them forward. If you’re trying to figure out where you fit, or you’re just curious, here’s what 2025 really looked like.

The Steady Hands: First-time buyers

~32% of Trava clients 

This group surprised even us. Most didn’t buy condos. They bought houses. In 2025. Yes, really.

What got them there was patience. They watched and waited. They didn’t let noise push them around. Some still had to compete, but the days of twelve-person lineups and heartbreak on repeat have softened. The one exception was a place where our clients beat out fourteen others, which felt like a time capsule from a different era.

One standout client had leased in Banbury-Don Mills before moving to the U.S. They kept an eye on the Toronto market from afar and decided this was the moment to buy into the city they plan to return to.

Every one of these buyers shared one thing: they knew what they wanted and this was their time to step in.

The Opportunists: Move-up buyers

~24% of Trava clients

These were the folks who needed more space and spotted an opening they hadn’t seen in years. Prices softened just enough that homes that once felt impossible suddenly weren’t.

There was a tradeoff. Most sold for less than they would have last year. A few who moved early sold higher, but they also paid higher on the buy side. The important part is that everyone bought and sold in the same market, which avoids selling low and then buying into an upswing.

On a couple of these, we even secured purchases that were conditional on the sale of their current home. A small win that made a big difference in a year like this.

The Realists: Downsizers and the condo curious

~20% of Trava clients

These clients weren’t looking for a dreamy, simplified life. They just wanted a home that matched who they are now. Some bought condos, and others chose to rent. Different motivations, same theme. Less house to manage, more room to plan what comes next.

Despite the general belief that it’s a terrible time to sell, every one of them met their price expectations. A few exceeded them. Not bad for a year most people assumed was all headwind.

The Pathfinders: Leaving the city

~16% of Trava clients

Four clients left Toronto and two stayed in Canada. Two moved to the U.S. for work, and I’ll be honest, when someone tells me they’re leaving Canada for a job elsewhere, I feel it. These are talented people taking their skills somewhere else.

Their reasons were straightforward. Work, lifestyle, or a pace that fits them better. No theatrics. Just life shifting.

All of them had complicated moves and relied on us to make things as smooth as possible. One family moved to Raleigh, South Carolina. They handed us their keys, and we handled everything: new floors, full paint job, repairs, cleaning, and staging. They didn’t have to worry about a single detail.

The Resilients: Unexpected movers

~8% of Trava clients

Two clients found themselves moving earlier than planned. One client bought just last year and still sold for more, which was a relief.

These are the moves that remind you real estate doesn’t always follow a tidy script. Sometimes life hits a little early and you improvise.

The theme this year at Trava wasn’t fear or frenzy. 

People moved because something in their life changed and staying put stopped making sense. But importantly, having the right information and being around the right people made all the difference. 

If you’re sitting in your own uncertainty as we head into 2026, wondering if you’re the only one thinking about a move, you’re not. And the market won’t hand you a clear signal on whether it’s the right time or not. It should be about what makes sense for you at that moment in time. 

When the moment shows up to make a move, it shouldn’t feel like you’re placing a bet. Work with people who know the market and lead with honesty, so you can feel confident stepping into one of the biggest decisions of your life.